Adams Parks Commission Approves Tick Signage
ADAMS, Mass. — The Parks Commission voted Monday to allow the Board of Health to place informational signs about ticks at town parks.
Board of Health member Bruce Shepley showed the commission a nationally distributed sign from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that listed best practices on how to avoid and remove ticks and prevent Lyme disease.
"Lyme disease is becoming more and more prevalent and more and more of a risk to the population," Shepley said. "It's is just one of those health risks. We want to be outdoors so we are trying to see what we can do to bring awareness."
Lyme disease is spread by blacklegged ticks and can cause fever, headaches and fatigue; if untreated, it can cause neurological issues, joint pain, severe headaches and irregular heartbeats.
Shepley said the CDC does not know how the mild winter will affect the tick population, but anticipates the insects will be active sooner than later.
The commissioners voted to allow the sign placement except for Chairman Todd Shafer, who felt people would read the signs as a warning and not use town parks.
"I don't want to deter people from using our facilities by putting up a warning sign," he said. "I get that it is a general warning not just for the parks ... but I think people are going to read it and think there is a problem here."
He added he has never heard a tick complaint at a commission meeting.
Shepley said he is certain that there are ticks on the town fields and the information would be beneficial to parkgoers.
"I look at it as a sign as informational, and I guarantee you that there are ticks wherever there is an open field," he said. "Again, this is not to highlight that you are in a tick arena, but to provide information. If one person sees it and pays attention to it, then the sign has been worthwhile."
Commissioner Jacob Schutz agreed and said if the signs do deter people from using the parks, they can provide supplemental information or take them down.
In other business, the commission did not approve the North Adams Babe Ruth League's request to use Renfrew Field because a representative did not attend the meeting and the commission had questions.
Commissioner James Sniezek said the Adams Babe Ruth team last year merged with North Adams, but this year changed the name to North Adams Babe Ruth.
Commissioners had concerns over why the name was changed and how many athletes are actually from Adams.
"It would be nice to just have a chance to ask what is going on with the name change and there was an issue that was brought up last year with the percentage of athletes from town," Schutz said. "I think it would be pertinent to ask some of those questions."
Sniezek said he was concerned that delaying the approval would create difficulties for the league
"The season starts April 1, and if we put this off it's going to throw a monkey wrench into their season," he said. "We have always had Babe Ruth and I don't want to cause any problems."
Shafer said the league can still use the field, it just has to ask Town Hall for permission until the next Parks Commission meeting.
Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School Principal April West asked commission to ask for approval to use Russell Field for Ultimate Frisbee practice.
The commission approved the request but asked West to use Valley Street Field instead because of conflicts with softball.
West said they used Valley Street Field last year and had no problem being flexible. She said the team was able to coordinate with the soccer league that also used Valley Street.
"We are very willing to be as flexible as we need to be to make it work," she said. "We know we can make that work, and we already have a good relationship with the soccer league."
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